Since the Annual Parish Meeting update in February, the Affordable Housing Committee and Vestry have continued to make progress in taking the next steps in the predevelopment process to explore affordable housing on campus.

NEW Update, April 24, 2024:

Update from April 7, 2024:

• On March 14, Saint Mark’s received an additional grant from Trinity Church Wall Street in the amount of $150,000 to complete pre-development studies and support the process of identifying a development partner.
• On March 19, the Vestry approved moving to the stage of selecting a development partner. While feasibility analysis will be ongoing, the Committee and Vestry believes that feasibility has been demonstrated at a level that supports initiating a process to select a development partner with which to pursue affordable housing on the St. Nicholas site, in anticipation that the development partner would bring its expertise, credibility, and financial strength to the project, while being aligned missionally with Saint Mark’s and being supportive of the project criteria that were approved by the Vestry.
• Continued participation in Enterprise Community Partners Faith-Based Development Initiative as part of a community of faith organizations looking to explore use of property for missional purposes.
• Engaging in sustainability planning work with The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) This collaboration is part of a planned path to “Core” certification for ensuring sustainability and carbon reduction goals on top of the base standards for affordable housing in Washington State.

Integral to this work has been continued analysis on further historical rehabilitation of the building. Saint Mark’s has been working with atelierjones, an architecture firm, for initial predevelopment planning that includes two options—(1) retaining the historic wing of the St. Nicholas Building through historic rehab or (2) new construction entirely on the site. A key next step in this work will be a meeting with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection (SDCI) this spring to review an initial enhanced site plan to get feedback from the City on key aspects about the project design.

“There are still many questions to answer, but we are getting closer to a more informed view of what redeveloping the St. Nicholas property could look like for affordable housing on campus,” said Dean Steve Thomason. “The Committee and Vestry are working diligently and intentionally to ensure that such a project design remains congruent with the Cathedral’s mission and serves a multigenerational population at a variety of lower-income levels.”

The parish is invited to join in two opportunities to learn more and share questions:

1. Wednesday, May 22 (6:45–8:15 p.m., in person in Bloedel Hall and by Zoom) – A Cathedral's Complicity in Redlining and Restrictive Covenants: a forum exploring the impact of Civil Rights history and racial segregation to consider how church communities, including Saint Mark’s, have a responsibility to honest face this and respond in just ways in our time.
2. Wednesday, June 5 (7–8 p.m. by Zoom) – An Update on Affordable Housing at Saint Mark’s: an opportunity to hear from Committee and Vestry leadership on the project plans and ask questions.

The Affordable Housing Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month. For questions, email affordablehousing@saintmarks.org.

The cathedral clergy are available to parishioners in need of pastoral care, and the best way to contact a priest after hours for urgent concerns (e.g. emergency hospitalization, serious injury, etc.) is by calling or texting them on their personal cell phones. These numbers are readily available to all parishioners via the Parish Directory (accessible via a link in the upper right of the cathedral website) or the ChurchLife mobile app. If you have not yet installed this app on your phone, we encourage you to do so—it is a great resource. Erik Donner can assist you with downloading the app or can simply provide you with the priests’ numbers himself; email edonner@saintmarks.org or call 206.323.0300 ext. 217.

For non-urgent pastoral messages, call the church office and leave a voicemail message, either for one of the priests or in the general mailbox. You can also email prayer requests anytime to prayers@saintmarks.org.

Learn more about pastoral care here.

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 9 P.M. until dawn on Good Friday

The Vigil at the Altar of Repose begins upon the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday liturgy (around 8:45 p.m.) and continues through the night in McCaw chapel. This ancient practice is inspired by Jesus' question to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemene, "Could you not stay awake with me one hour?" As in recent years, this vigil will be an online offering, with a live video available all night.

The length of the vigil depends on those who volunteer. For security, doors are locked, and each participant opens the door for the next at the beginning of each hour. (If someone arrives late and the chain is broken, the vigil concludes at that point.) In 2023, volunteers were present continually until 8 a.m.

If you are interested in spending an hour in prayer, please sign up for a slot here no later than Monday, March 25. Contact Sacristan Michael Seewer with questions: mseewer@saintmarks.org

UPDATE!

The First Hybrid Third Acters Potluck Brunch 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 12:30–2 P.M., in Leffler House or online via Zoom

The first Third Acters Potluck Brunch will be this Sunday, February 25, 12:30–2 p.m. in Leffler House as well as on Zoom. In addition to sharing food and conversation, there will also be an invitation to share ideas about what activities and gatherings the group could plan going forward. Contact Kathy Minsch (kminsch@gmail.com) and/or Elizabeth Clark-Stern (ecstern@yahoo.com) with any questions. Please bring food to share if in person. For those online, join using this Zoom link.

FIRST MEETING: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 3–4:30 P.M., online via Zoom

UPDATE: The March 12 meeting has been cancelled due to illness.

Saint Mark’s retiree group, the “Third Acters,” is for people approaching retirement, or those already retired who are seeking support, knowledge, and a joyful community for the “Third Act,” of our journey on Earth. Linzi Stahlecker will join us on Zoom the second Tuesday of every month, 3-4:30 p.m. The first meeting on Tuesday, November 14 will be an Open House for everyone to share or observe.

A guidebook for our journey will be Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward, which challenges the prevailing cultural myths about aging. He writes, “Get ready for a great adventure, the one you were born for, some new freedom, some dangerous permission, some radical grace.” All are welcome! To get the Zoom link to join, contact Kathy Minsch (kminsch@gmail.com) or Elizabeth Clark-Stern (ecstern@yahoo.com)

UPDATE: There will be no meeting in December 2023. 

Subsequent meetings are planned for the second Tuesday of each month.

BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 7:30-8 A.M., via Zoom

Come just as you are to Morning Prayer each weekday morning of Lent, on zoom. Join Canon Linzi for this daily 30 minute liturgy, all are welcome, whether you're still in your pj's, joining from your workplace, or listening on the move. We will be praying straight from the BCP, so grab your prayer book and your Bible. For those who would rather, you can also follow along on these two sites, which also have apps that work on smart phones: Mission St. Clare; Venite.

No former experience with Morning Prayer is necessary. Join using this Zoom link. Please reach out to Linzi+ with any questions.

UPDATE: Beginning in April 2024, the link previously posted above is no longer in use, and weekday Morning Prayer will use the SAME LINK as weekday Evening Prayer. Learn more and find the link here.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2024, 9 A.M.–3 P.M., throughout the cathedral campus

The nave will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as a space for prayer and contemplation. Labyrinths will be available indoors and outdoors. Art materials for all ages, including play-dough and other contemplative activities, will be available throughout the day.

Note: The afternoon activities are particularly kid-friendly. The child care space will be unstaffed but available all day.

Freewill donations gratefully accepted ($10–$15 suggested). No RSVP necessary.

Email Canon Linzi Stahlecker for more information about the morning activities: lstahlecker@saintmarks.org  For questions about afternoon activities, please contact Canon Wendy Claire Barrie: wbarrie@saintmarks.org

Schedule of the Day

Morning scheduled offerings:

9:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer

10:30 a.m. - Breathwork

11:30 a.m. - Centering Prayer

Tomato soup and grilled cheese lunch served in Bloedel Hall, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Afternoon scheduled offerings:

12:30 p.m. - Drum &Rhythm Circle

1 p.m. - Collage, Praying in Color, Quilt Ministry Activities

2 p.m. - Sound Bath